The eldest son of an elderly St. Albert couple who disappeared in 2010 made an audiotaped personal plea to accused killer Travis Vader for the RCMP to use in questioning him.

Testifying at Vader’s first-degree murder trial Tuesday, Bret McCann, 61, said it was his belief that the Mounties were going to use the 2010 recorded message “to appeal to Vader’s better nature.”

In it, he says his parents had been missing for more than two weeks and he understood that Vader might have some information “as to their whereabouts.”

He then goes on to talk about himself and his family and says to Vader that he just wants to appeal to him to “help me out here.”

McCann also says that the disappearance of his parents is “just agony” for their “devastated” and “frantic” family and tells Vader that he knows deep down that he is a “decent man.”

He ends the message by asking Vader to please tell the police any information he has about where his parents are: “Please Travis … please just tell us.”

Under cross-examination, defence lawyer Brian Beresh asked McCann if it was true what he said in the plea about getting a message from Vader’s sister. McCann replied he didn’t recall, but it must have been true.

“I don’t know why I would make that up,” said McCann, adding he also remembers getting a Facebook message from someone claiming to be Vader’s son.

The cross-examination became testy over some of Beresh’s questions and, at one point, Beresh demanded that McCann refer to Vader as “Mr. Vader.”

McCann also testified about his last night with his parents, saying he and his wife went to the St. Albert home of Lyle McCann, 78, and Marie McCann, 77, on July 2, 2010.

Court has heard the McCanns were last seen leaving a Superstore in St. Albert on July 3, 2010.

Two days later, their motorhome was found ablaze and abandoned at a campground by Minnow Lake near Edson.

Court heard earlier from the McCann’s daughter, Trudy Holder, who said her parents were supposed to pick up her and her daughter at the Abbotsford airport on July 10, 2010, but they never showed up.

The 2006 Hyundai Tucson SUV they were towing was found in a remote wooded area east of Edson.

Court heard police found blood spatter from the McCanns on items in the SUV, as well as Vader’s DNA, blood and fingerprints.

Beresh has accused the RCMP of suffering from “tunnel vision” in their pursuit of his 44-year-old client and said it resulted in them failing to pursue other suspects, whose names he said will be revealed during the trial.

He also told court there is no proof the McCanns are dead and said expert witnesses will raise questions about the blood, DNA and fingerprint evidence that is allegedly linked to Vader.

Photos; Lyle and Marie McCann double homicide mystery

Lyle and Marie McCann, ages 77 and 78, left their St. Albert home on July 3, 2010, en route for holidays in B.C. Two days later, their burned RV was found near Edson, Alta., about 200 kms west of Edmonton. Travis Vader, 41, was accused of their murders, those charges were stayed on Wednesday March 19, 2014. The McCann's bodies have yet to been found. Family Hand Out Photo

Family Hand Out Photo

Edmonton, AB., July 13, 2010. Sgt. Tim Taniguchi stands in the foreground as photos of Lyle Thomas McCann - 78, and Marie Anne McCann - 77 can be seen in the background as RCMP ask for the public's help at the K Division Offices to locate the missing couple who was last seen on July 3. DOREEN THUNDER/EDMONTON SUN QMI AGENCY

Edmonton, AB., July 13, 2010. McCann family members, friend and RCMP speak with media at the RCMP K Division Offices and are asking for the public's help to locate the missing couple, Lyle Thomas McCann - 78, and Marie Anne McCann - 77 who was last seen on July 3. DOREEN THUNDER/EDMONTON SUN QMI AGENCY

Edmonton, AB., July 13, 2010. Bret McCann (left) and his wife, Mary-Ann McCann (right) speak with media at the RCMP K Division Offices and are asking for the public's help to locate his missing parents, Lyle Thomas McCann - 78, and Marie Anne McCann - 77 who was last seen on July 3. DOREEN THUNDER/EDMONTON SUN QMI AGENCY

Edmonton, AB., July 13, 2010. Bret McCann holds photos of his parents, Lyle Thomas McCann (left) - 78, and Marie Anne McCann (right) - 77 after speaking with media at the RCMP K Division Offices and is asking for the public's help to locate the missing couple who was last seen on July 3. DOREEN THUNDER/EDMONTON SUN QMI AGENCY

RCMP investigate at a house where Travis Vader was arrested north of Nojack, Alberta near MacKay on July 19, 2010. JORDAN VERLAGE /EDMONTON SUN / QMI AGENCY

JORDAN VERLAGE/EDMONTON SUN/QMI AGENCY

RCMP investigate at a house where Travis Vader was arrested north of Nojack, Alberta near MacKay on July 19, 2010. JORDAN VERLAGE /EDMONTON SUN / QMI AGENCY

JORDAN VERLAGE/EDMONTON SUN/QMI AGENCY

RCMP officers search around the home where Travis Edward Vader was arrested near MacKay, west of Edmonton, Alberta, Monday July 19, 2010. Vader was arrested without incident and is being held on outstanding warrants unlreated to the search for Lyle and Laurie McCann who have been missing since July 3. LAWRENCE LEMIEUX / QMI AGENCY

QMI AGENCY

Members of the McCann family walk out carrying a photo of Lyle and Marie McCann following the announcement of a fundraising campaign to develop a special reward for tips in the disappearance of the St. Albert couple at St. Albert Place on Monday, August 16 2010. Right to left is Nicole Walshe, Lyle and Marie's grandaughter, Mary-Ann McCann, Lyle and Marie's daughter-in-law, and Casey Walshe, Nicole Walshe's husband. It is hoped the extra funds might entice someone to share information in the case. AMBER BRACKEN/EDMONTON SUN/ QMI AGENCY

AMBER BRACKEN/EDMONTON SUN/ QMI

Morgan Holder, 9, holds a wind flower she made for her missing grandparents Lyle and Marie McCann during a poster campaign to find the missing seniors at 170 Street and 118 Avenue on Sunday, August 1, 2010 in Edmonton, Alberta. Holder says she made the word "hope" a mirror so people could see hope reflected in themselves. AMBER BRACKEN/EDMONTON SUN/ QMI AGENCY

AMBER BRACKEN/EDMONTON SUN/ QMI

Bret McCann thanks volunteers as his daughter Nicole Walshe stands with him during a poster campaign to find his missing parents Lyle and Marie McCann at 170 Street and 118 Avenue on Sunday, August 1, 2010 in Edmonton, Alberta. About two dozen volunteers came to gather posters to help find the McCann's, who disappeared a month ago while on their way to visit family in B.C. AMBER BRACKEN/EDMONTON SUN/ QMI AGENCY

AMBER BRACKEN/EDMONTON SUN/ QMI

RCMP Assistant Commissioner Peter Hourihan, at K-Division on July 16, 2010, identifies Travis Edward Vader to be a person of interest in the recent disappearance of Lyle and Marie McCann of St. Albert. JORDAN VERLAGE / EDMONTON SUN / QMI AGENCY

JORDAN VERLAGE/EDMONTON SUN/QMI AGENCY

Bret McCann talks about a fundraising campaign to develop a special reward for tips in the disappearance of his parents St. Albert couple Lyle and Marie McCann at St. Albert Place on Monday, August 16 2010. It is hoped the extra funds might entice someone to share information in the case. AMBER BRACKEN/EDMONTON SUN/ QMI AGENCY

AMBER BRACKEN/EDMONTON SUN/ QMI

Mary-Ann and Bret McCann stands in front of their parents house in St Albert on Friday, July 1, 2011. Their parents Lyle and Marie McCann went missing on July3, 2010 and have not been found. PERRY MAH/EDMONTON SUN QMI AGENCY

EDMONTON SUN QMI AGENCY

An urn of rose petals, representing one of the McCanns, is carried out following the memorial service for Bret's parents Lyle and Marie McCann at St. Albert Catholic Parish in St. Albert Alta., on Saturday, July 30, 2011. The family held the service on the missing couple's 59th wedding anniversary, a year after they went missing. No bodies have been found but an Edmonton court granted an order declaring Lyle and Marie McCann officially dead. AMBER BRACKEN/EDMONTON SUN/QMI AGENCY

AMBER BRACKEN/EDMONTON SUN/QMI A

Bret McCann, left, and his wife Mary Ann McCann, right, hug supporters after the memorial service for Bret's parents Lyle and Marie McCann at St. Albert Catholic Parish in St. Albert Alta., on Saturday, July 30, 2011. The family held the service on the missing couple's 59th wedding anniversary, a year after they went missing. No bodies have been found but an Edmonton court granted an order declaring Lyle and Marie McCann officially dead. AMBER BRACKEN/EDMONTON SUN/QMI AGENCY

AMBER BRACKEN/EDMONTON SUN/QMI A

A copy of a wedding photo of Lyle and Marie McCann from the memorial service memorial service program, held at St. Albert Catholic Parish in St. Albert Alta., on Saturday, July 30, 2011. The family held the service on the missing couple's 59th wedding anniversary, a year after they went missing. No bodies have been found but an Edmonton court granted an order declaring Lyle and Marie McCann officially dead.

AMBER BRACKEN/EDMONTON SUN/QMI A

Bret and Mary Ann McCann leave the Edmonton Law Courts, Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2010. Travis Vader was scheduled to make an appearance on charges unrelated to the McCann case. DAVID BLOOM/EDMONTON SUN QMI AGENCY

DAVID BLOOM/EDMONTON SUN/QMI AGE

Brett McCann, son of Lyle and Marie McCann, poses next to a billboard advertising a reward for the missing couple with his daughter, Nicole Walshe, on Highway 16 west of Entwistle in Alberta on Friday, September 30, 2011. CODIE MCLACHLAN/EDMONTON SUN QMI AGENCY

Bret and Mary Ann McCann hold hands as they talk to the media outside the Edmonton Law Courts, Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2010. Travis Vader was scheduled to make an appearance on charges unrelated to the McCann case. DAVID BLOOM/EDMONTON SUN QMI AGENCY

DAVID BLOOM/EDMONTON SUN/QMI AGE

Accused killer Travis Vader is escorted out of court by police following his first court appearance in Edson on May 15, 2012, after being charged with two counts of first degree murder in the deaths of a missing St. Albert couple, Lyle and Marie McCann. The charges against Vader were stayed in an Edmonton courtroom on March 19, 2014. Pamela Roth/Edmonton Sun/QMI Agency

The eldest son of an elderly St. Albert couple who disappeared in 2010 and are presumed dead recalled his last night with his parents while giving evidence in court Tuesday
Testifying at Travis Vader’s first-degree murder trial, Bret McCann, 61, said he and his wife went to the St. Albert home of Lyle McCann, 78, and Marie McCann, 77, on July 2, 2010.